Tuesday, Sep. 01, 2009

Upstate's Cecil makes big stage debut

Spartanburg native decides to go pro before Open match against Garbin

Mallory Cecil has played on various courts at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, host site of the U.S. Open, while participating in the event’s junior draw.

But the Spartanburg native acknowledges that she’s really only witnessed the madness of the New York fans during a pair of visits to the main court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Cecil makes her debut in the main draw today against Tathiana Garbin.

“It’s absolutely huge, it’s crazy,” Cecil said. “The big crowd and everything is what the top players thrive off of — performing and getting the crowds involved. It’s just a great atmosphere to be in.”

Cecil, ranked No. 483, likely will not find herself anywhere near the larger courts unless she advances a few rounds into the tournament. First up is Garbin, a 32-year-old Italian ranked No. 58 in the world and making her ninth U.S. Open appearance and 39th all-time major showing.

The winner will advance to face the winner of 27th-seeded Russian Alisa Kleybanova, a 20-year-old ranked No. 28, and Petra Kvitova, a 19-year-old ranked 69th.

The 19-year-old Cecil, who attended Spartanburg Day School before departing to train under famed coach Nick Bollettieri in Bradenton, Fla., is making her professional debut as a wild card entry.

She enrolled at Duke in January and won the NCAA national individual championship while leading the Blue Devils to the team title, the first woman in Atlantic Coast Conference history to do that in the same season.

Cecil recently informed Duke coach Jamie Ashworth that she would pursue a professional career and not return to school.

“I feel (college) was a steppingstone in my life that I needed to take,” Cecil said. “I wanted to experience it and I feel like college propelled me forward and gave me the confidence to take the plunge in going pro.”

Cecil received an easier path than her male counterpart — NCAA men’s champion Devin Britton from the University of Mississippi — who drew top-seeded Roger Federer after also getting in via a wild card. Federer won Monday in straight sets.

“It’s nice that I didn’t draw (top seed Dinara) Safina, Venus or Serena (Williams) in the first round,” Cecil said, although she could play Safina in Round 3. “I feel I can win my match.”

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